Improvement in water-proof boots



A. CUSHMAN.

Water Proof Bootsl`l N0. 124,257, Y PatentedMarch 5,1872.

vARA CUSHMAN, OF AUBURN, MAINE.

IMPROVEMENT IN WATER-PRO-OF BOQTS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 194,257, dated March 5, 1872.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ARA CUSHMAN, of Auburn, Androscoggin county, in the State ot' Maine, have invented an lmprovementin fater-Proof Boots 5 and I do hereby declare that the followingj taken in connection with the drawing which accompanies and forms part of this specification, is a description of my invention sufficient to enable those skilled in the art to practice it.

My invention relates' to an improved construction otl that class of long-legged boots which are made with soles of caoutchouc-colupound, the caoutchouc extending' up from the sole to form part ofthe vamp or upper, the rest of which is preferably made of one or more thicknesses of stout cloth, topped by a leg of cloth. ln my invention, I make the sole and lower part of the vamp of caoutchouccompound, vulcanized into form by the common process of vulcanization employed in 1nanufacturingrubberl boots, shoes7 and arctics; and upon the inner surface of the rubber sole I place an inner sole of leather, vulcanizing or cementing-the rubber, leather, and cloth together, the edge of the cloth extending under the edge of the leather, or so that it is inclosed between the leather and the rubber. The leather sole is preferably covered with kersey or other soft, warm cloth, and the boot so made is not only a water-tight boot so far as relates to the sole and to a distance of about an inch above, but has an upper which is pervious to air, and an inner sole which not only imparts stiffness to the sole, but forms a firm and pervious bottom for the foot to rest upon. It is in this construction that my invention consists, or in a boot, at bottom of which is a sole lnade ot' rubber or caoutchouc-compound lia-ving an upwardly-extending vamp-portion forming an integral part of it, the upper part of the vamp being formed of cloth, and the rubber sole being covered with an inner sole of leather or similar material, the edge of the cloth vamp extending and being inclosed between the leather sole and the composition sole, and the vamp, composition sole, and leather inner sole being vulcanized together, or united by the compound when in a viscid condition, or by suitable cement.

The drawing represents in side view and in section on the line .r w, a boot embodying my invention.

a shows the main sole, (formed of rubber compound,) which spie may or may not have an auxiliary or tap-sole, b, also formed ot' rubber, and vulcanized or cemented to it. e is the rubber vamp-strip, made of thinner material than the sole, and covering' or projecting over the top of the sole and up beyond the edges thereof, the projection of the strip c above the sole rendering the boot entirely water-proof from the sole to the top of the strip. The parts a b c, as well as a rubber iilling, d, are all vul canized together, so as to form in eifect one piece. e denotes the. cloth vamp or upper, said upper being composed ot' one or more thicknesses of cloth, but preferably of an outer closely-woven cloth,f, an inner coarse, Woolly cloth or kersey, g, and with an interposed lining of duck or stout cotton cloth, h, the three being quilted together to form one. The edges t' z' of this cloth upper extend down inside of the strip c, and inwardly over the edges of the sole a, and covering the sole c and the edges lL' z' is a leather inner sole, k, which sole is united to the sole a, (or to the rubber tilling on top thereof,) and to the edgest' t' by rubber cement, and by heat and pressure. Upon the sole 7c may be laid a soft or furry cloth insole, Z, for the purpose of Warmth. To the top of the vamp or upper is stitched the cloth leg m.

The boot thus made is not only very warm, and'iinpervious to wet and moisture to a height which will secure the foot of the wearer from entrance of rain or snow-water in Walking upon sidewalks and in any wet walking, when there is not a depth of snow or water to rise above the top of the strip e; but by means ofthe leather inner sole, rigidity is given to the sole sufficient to overcome the too great pliability common to rubber boots which are worn without inner boots; saidsole also protecting the bottom of the foot from sweating asin common rubber boots, while the pervious cloth upper e preserves the warmth of thefoot without tending to cause the foot to perspire. The boot thus made is an exceedingly comfortable boot to wear directly against the footfor wet Walking, and is free from the objections common to ordinary rubber boots. Common leather boots and shoes are always more or less injured by Wearing theln under rubber boots or under areties, but this boot avoids the necessity of \\'earing the under boot7 as for Wet walking the improved boot fully combines the advantages of both.

I claim- The improved boot made with the rubber or caoutchouc soie a, (having,` the upwardly-projecting rubber vamp-piece 0,) the cloth upper or vamp e, and the leather sole k, the edges of r the cloth vamp e being not only cemented to the Vamp-piece c, but also extending;l under the ri gid leather soie k and between its edges and the sole a, and being Secured by vuleanizing or oementing to and between both soles7 substantially as shown and described.

` ARA GUSHMAN. Witnesses:

FRANCIS GOULD, M. W. FROTHINGHAM. 

